henthorn



(No Model.)

E. R. HBNTHORN.

STAMP REGISTER.

No. 413,855. Patented Oct. 29, 1889.

[III/EH70:

A TTORI/EYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELTON R. HENTHORN, OF BUCKNER, MISSOURI.

STAMP-REGISTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 413,855, dated October 29, 1889.

Application filed April 26, 1889.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ELTON R. HENTHORN, of Buckner, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in StampRegisters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in stamp-registers, and has for its object to provide a device especially adapted for use by fourth-class postm asters, whereby an accurate register may be kept of the various stamps of diiferent denominations canceled by the said postmasters.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which will register a cancellation simultaneously with the act of canceling.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter more fully set-forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanyin g drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a front elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view, and Fig. 4c is a central vertical section.

In carrying out the invention a base 10, of wood, metal, or other suitable material, is provided, adapted to rest upon any convenient support, in the upper face of which base a series of recesses or depressions 11 are produced, which recesses continue through a plate 12, secured to the base at or near the rear and extending perpendicularly upward at a right angle to the said base. The several depressions or recesses 11 are formed transversely in the base and are separated one from the other, as illustrated in Fig. 3. In each depression or recess a table 13 is pivoted at its forward end, as shown in Fig. at, and the rear end of the table, which is preferably reduced, as illustrated at 1% in Fig. 3, is made to extend through the opening in the plate 12, registering with the recess in the table. Each of the tables preferably partakes of the contour of the recess in which they are respectively pivoted. The free end of each table is held at an elevation above the opsmai 110,308,679. (No model.)

posed walls of the recess 1l,in which it is pivoted, by means of a spring 15, rigidly secured at one end to the base-wall of the recess and bearing at its opposite extremity upon the under face of the table at its rear end, as shown in Fig. 4. The vertical movement of each table is regulated by means of a slotted guide-plate 16, contacting with the upper face of each table and secured by means of a setscrew to a bar or offset 17, secured to or constituting an integral portion of the front face of the plate 12.

If in practice it is found desirable, a pad 1 S, of any suitable or approved,construction, may be secured to each of the tables to facilitate the cancellation of the stamps if a pad is employed in such operation. If a pad is used in connection with the table, as represented in Fig. 4, the said pad is preferably detachably secured thereto.

Upon the frontface of the plate 12 a series of dials 19 are produced, the said dials corresponding in number to the number of tables employed, the center of the dials being in vertical alignment with the longitudinal axis of their respective tables.

In the center of each dial 19 a post 20 is held to revolve, carrying a hand or indicator 21 upon its outer end, which post extends from the plate 12 beyond the rear face of the same, and is journaled in a suitable bracket 22. It will be understood that one such post 20 and a hand are provided for each of the dials. Upon each post 20, at the rear of the plate 12, a ratchet-wheel is rigidly mounted, and a dog 24 is provided for each ratchetwheel, engaging therewith at the upper end, which dogs are carried downward through suitable guides and secured at their lower ends, one at the rear extremity of each of the tables 13, as best shown in Fig. 2. The dogs rotate the ratchet-wheels in one direction, and the said wheels are prevented from moving in an opposite direction through the me dium of a spring-actuated pawl 25, one pawl being used in connection with each ratchetwheel.

lVhilcl have illustrated the dials as having produced upon their faces numbers running up to one hundred, it will be understood that the denominations may be increased or decreased, as desired. Over each of the dials I indicate the denomination of the stamp the number of which canceled that particular dial is purposed to register. Thus over one dial I produce the number 1 and the abbreviation 0, over the next 2c, and over the last but it will be readily understood that if more dials are employed than is illustrated other figures and characters may be placed above them-as, for instance, the neXt, if four dials are employed, would have produced above it the figure and abbreviation 100.

By adjusting the guide-plate 16 each movement of a table downward will turn the ratchet-whcel connected with the said table one notch, and thereby force the indicator 21 from one point of the dial to the next, as from 1 to 2; or, if desired, the said. plate may be so adjusted that each table in its travel when depressed will turn the wheel connected therewith two or three notches, thus registering two or three notches at one time.

In operation the letters are assorted and placed upon the proper tables, and as one stamp after another is canceled at each cancellation the table upon which the letter rests is pressed down, whereupon the indicator is turned only upon the dial immediately above that particular table. Thus the postmaster is enabled to keep an accurate register of the various stamps canceled by him, and also the denominations of the stamps so canceled.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. The combination, with the base 10 and the apertured plate 12, secured to the base and provided with a dial, of the post 20, journaled in the plate 12 and provided with the hand 21 and the ratchet-wheel 23, the table 13, pivoted to the base and projecting through the aperture of the plate 12, the dog 24, secured to the projecting end of the table and engaging the ratchet-wheel, and a pawl 25, for preventing backward movement of the ratchet-wheel, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The combination, with the base 10 and apertured plate 12, provided witha dial, of

the post 20, provided with the hand 21 and ratchet-wheel 23, the table 13, pivoted to the base and projecting through the aperture of the plate 12, the dog 24, secured to the end of the table, projecting through the said plate, a pawl for preventing the backward movement of the ratchet-wheel, and means for limiting the movement of the table, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. The combination, with a base provided with a series of depressions or recesses in its upper face, and a plate projected Vertically from said base at the rear, having openings therein registering with the base-recesses, of a spring-actuated table pivoted at the forward end in each of the said recesses of the base, extending through the opening in the plate, a guide-plate adj ustably held above each table, a dial produced upon the vertical plate over each of the tables, a post projected through each dial carrying an indicator at its outer end and a ratchet-wheel behind the dial,'and a dog contacting with each of the said ratchet-wheels and secured to the table immediately below the same, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, with a base provided with a series of recesses in its upper face, a perpendicular plate projected upward at a right angle to the base at the rear, having openings therein registering with the baserecesses, a table pivoted at its forward end in each of the base-recesses, a spring secured to the base and bearing against the under face of each table, and a pad secured to the upper face of said tables, of a guide-plate adjustably held above each table, a dial produced upon the vertical plate over each of the tables, a post projected through each dial carrying an indicator at its outer end, and a ratchet-wheel behind the dial, and a dog contacting with each of the said ratchet-wheels and secured to the table immediately below the same, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

ELTON R. HENTHORN.

Vitnesses:

JOHN S. PRYOR, JAMES W. KINYOUN. 

